Close, but not close enough in the end: Ireland’s bid to win the combined R&A Men’s and Women’s Home Internationals came up just short, after defending champions England retained the title with a last day 12½ to 8½ win over the Irish team at Machynys Golf Club in Wales.

Both teams had gone into the final day’s play with 100 per cent records – after wins over Wales and Scotland each – but England earned a key advantage when closing strongly in the morning foursomes to take a 5-2 lead into the singles.

And, to rub salt into Irish wounds, the men’s title also went to England who beat Ireland on countback by a mere half a point (20½ to 20). That particular outcome went down to the very last match on the course, where England’s Charlie Crockett held on to beat Dundalk’s Caolan Rafferty on the 18th by one hole.